wheel

SayWEEL/wil/UK/wiːl/

Pluralwheels

Verbwheels, wheeling, wheeled

26 meanings of wheel

Practice

1
rolling partnouncountable
A round part that turns to move a vehicle or make a machine work.
Like a coin standing on its edge, rolling along the floor.
My bike has a bent back wheel.
A car has four wheels.
2
nouncountablewith the
The round thing a driver or sailor turns to steer, as in 'behind the wheel'.
Like the handlebars that decide where a bike goes.
She gripped the wheel tightly as the road turned icy.
He fell asleep at the wheel and drifted into the next lane.
UsageSay behind the wheel or take the wheel.
Note
3
push alongverbtransitive
To push or pull someone or something that is on wheels.
Like pushing a stroller with a baby inside.
The nurse wheeled the patient down the hallway to the ward.
A nurse will wheel you to your room after the test.
UsageSay wheel someone to a place.
Similarpush, roll, trundle
Note
4
potterynouncountable
A flat spinning disk that a potter uses to shape soft clay.
Like a spinning plate that you press soft clay onto to shape it.
She shaped a smooth bowl on the wheel with her wet hands.
She pressed her hands against the clay as the potter's wheel turned.
UsageYou make a pot on the wheel.
Note
5
cyclenounfigurativelycountable
A series of events that keeps coming back around again and again.
Like the seasons that come back around year after year.
The wheel of the seasons brings winter back every single year.
Fashion is a wheel, and old styles always come back around.
UsageSay the wheel of fortune.
Similarcycle
Note
6
nouncolloquial
In the plural, wheels: a car or other vehicle with an engine that a person owns or uses.
Nice wheels! Did you just buy that car?
I can't come to the party tonight because I don't have wheels.
Similarcar, ride
Note

Less common meanings

7
about-faceverbintransitive
To turn around quickly, or to make something turn quickly.
Like spinning around fast when someone taps your shoulder.
When the music stops, the dancers wheel around to face us.
He wheeled around when he heard his name called.
UsageSay wheel around.
Similarspin, turn, whirl, pivot, swing
Note
8
cheese roundnouncountable
A large, round, flat block of cheese.
Like a giant round cake, but made of cheese.
They bought a whole wheel of cheese for the party.
She cut a thick wedge from the wheel of aged cheddar.
UsageSay a wheel of cheese.
Similarround
9
circle (flying)verbintransitive
To fly or move around in big circles, often high up in the air.
Like a kite swinging round and round high in the sky.
Hawks wheel above the valley as they hunt for mice.
The gulls wheeled over the harbor when the fishing boats came in.
UsageBirds wheel above or over a place.
Similarcircle, spiral, swirl
Note
10
set spinningverbtransitive
To make something spin or turn around in a circle.
Like spinning a globe around with your hand.
Gusts of wind wheel the dry leaves in little circles.
The strong current wheeled the little boat in slow circles.
UsageMost people say spin or turn instead.
Similarturn, spin, rotate
Note
11
yarn makingnouncountable
A machine with a large turning wheel used to twist wool or cotton into thread.
Like a machine that twists soft cotton into one long string.
Her grandmother sat at the wheel, turning fluffy wool into long threads.
The old wheel in the cottage still spun yarn smoothly.
UsageAlso called a spinning wheel.
12
big shotnounslangcountable
An important person who has a lot of power or control.
Like the captain of a team: the one who calls the shots.
My boss acts like a big wheel, but nobody listens to him.
The big wheels at the studio decided to cancel the show.
UsageSay a big wheel.
Similarbigwig, heavyweight, mogul, magnate
Oppositenobody
13
nouncountable
A turning or circling movement around a center point.
Like one full spin of a merry-go-round.
We watched the hawk's slow wheel high above the field.
With one quick wheel, the whole flock changed course.
Similarturn, circle, revolution, rotation
Note
14
bicyclenounarchaic
A bike or tricycle that a person rides.
Note
15
torture devicenouncountable
A large round wooden device once used to hurt and kill people as punishment.
The prisoner was condemned to the wheel for his crimes.
Crowds gathered in the square to watch the execution on the wheel.
UsageSay on the wheel.
16
marching turnnouncountable
A marching turn where the whole line swings to the left or right while keeping the same order.
Like a swinging door: the whole line turns while staying in one piece.
The squad practiced a smooth wheel to the right during the parade.
On the captain's order, the band made a smooth right wheel.
UsagePeople say right wheel or left wheel.
17
fireworknouncountable
A firework that spins fast in a circle, shooting out sparks.
Like a pinwheel that shoots out sparks of fire.
We nailed the wheel to a post and lit it, sending sparks flying.
The spinning wheel lit up the garden with bright orange sparks.
UsageAlso called a Catherine wheel.
Similarpinwheel
18
poker straightnounslangcountable
In poker, the cards ace, two, three, four, and five, the lowest straight.
She had a wheel, ace to five, and it beat his three kings.
A wheel beats a pair but loses to every higher straight.
Note
19
ride a bikeverbdatedintransitive
To travel by riding a bicycle or tricycle.
Similarcycle, bike, pedal, ride
Note
20
computer adminnoundatedcountable
On some computer systems, a user who has full control and special powers.
Like having a master key that opens every door in a building.
Only a wheel can change the system's core settings.
She was made a wheel so she could manage the other accounts.
Similarsuperuser, root, admin
Note
21
nounarchaic
A single United States dollar.
22
nounarchaicUK
A British crown coin, worth five shillings.
Note
23
nounobsolete
Any round object, or anything that rolls or turns.
Flashing thick flames , wheel within wheel undrawn
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, wheel means a round, turning shape, like a circle.
24
noun
In math, a kind of number system where you can always divide, even by zero.
25
noun
In poetry, a group of short lines with a special beat that comes at the end of each verse.
26
verb
In grime music, to restart a track from the beginning during a set.

More uses

wheelsa car you can use

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of wheel apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

This word comes from Old English hwēol. It goes back to an ancient root meaning "to turn", so a wheel is literally "the thing that turns and turns".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Wheel comes from Old English hwēol. en.wikipedia.org
Wheel ultimately derives from an ancient root meaning ‘to turn’. en.wiktionary.org
Its etymological formation literally means ‘the thing that turns and turns’. en.wiktionary.org